Mr. Chairman, I believe it is quite important to have Health Canada's views on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
I don't want to be too hard on you, but I believe we are already falling behind with the review. I find it difficult to understand why your department has not already submitted recommendations or proposed amendments to the legislation to the public. If we could at least obtain a draft on the direction you would like to take with regard to these matters, we would find it somewhat helpful in continuing our work.
I would like to come back to the equivalency accords with respect to the implementation of the legislation. As far as I understand, under the provisions of the Act — those in section 10 in particular — it has so far not been possible to effectively conclude agreements with the provinces.
I would like to know exactly how many agreements have been signed. Unless I am wrong, your officials have been working with the provinces and territories since January 2004 in an effort to conclude agreements. Why is it that there has not been more progress with those agreements? Moreover, why are some provinces unable to sign agreements with the federal government?